25 
to the state of the atmosphere, they dif¬ 
fer in colours. They often assume the 
colour of blood, and make a most dread¬ 
ful appearance. The rustic sages repre¬ 
sent these phenomena as prognosticative 
of future events, and thereby affright the 
gaping multitude with dread of war, fa¬ 
mine, and pestilential devastations. Vid. 
Pen. Arcl. Zool. voL i. p. 27. 
The shores are generally lofty, and 
rise almost perpendicular from the ocean. 
I went out with the Captain in one of 
the boats, and sailed round some of the 
headlands of Unst. The scene was truly 
sublime :—fogs immured their summits; 
the noise of the sea dashing against the 
rocks; # and the screams of the eagles 
and other birds of prey, which there en¬ 
joy perfect security ; combined with the 
sombre and terrific appearance exhibited 
by these bulwarks of nature, impressed 
* Planctus illistz cautibus undue. 
